Photo Gallery
SPRINGFIELD - The Missouri State University women's track and field team took home the night's top honor at the ninth annual Bears All-Sports Showcase, Monday (May 7) night at JQH Arena. A number of individual student-athletes were also recognized for their excellence as part of the year-end celebration of Bears Athletics.
 
The track squad was the top point collector in the Bear Cup team competition for community service, academic excellence, athletic excellence, Bears supporting Bears and public affairs. Women's swimming and diving finished second in the Bear Cup standings, while softball was third. The 2018 award marks the first time women's track and field has earned the Bear Cup, but continues a streak of nine consecutive years of the honor going to a women's program.
 
Members of MSU's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) served as the presenters for the evening, which includes a red-carpet entry and awards similar to ESPN's Espy Awards. SAAC members also took the lead in the nomination, selection and voting processes for the event and the awards presented.
 
The event also included a tribute to more than 2,500 hours of volunteer and community service efforts by MSU's student-athletes during the 2017-18 year. The total economic impact of MSU's volunteer efforts is over $60,000 to the Springfield community.
 
All-America volleyball player Lily Johnson (Wildwood, Mo.) was awarded the Dr. Mary Jo Wynn Female Student-Athlete of the Year Award, while swimmer Christopher Heye (Little Rock, Ark.) was selected as the recipient of the Bill Rowe Male Student-Athlete of the Year. Both awards were voted on by student-athlete peers among Missouri State's 17 intercollegiate athletic programs.
 
The Senior Student-Athletes of the Year were presented to All-MVC basketball sensation Alize Johnson (Williamsport, Pa.) and MVC Swimmer of the Year Sydney Zupan (Wildwood, Mo.). This year's Junior Student-Athlete of the Year awards went to NCAA swimming qualifier Blair Bish (Little Rock, Ark.) and All-MVC volleyball performer Emily Butters (Richmond, Texas). Butters was also named female freshman of the year in 2016 and sophomore of the year in 2017.
 
The 2018 Sophomore Student-Athlete of the Year awards went to football quarterback Peyton Huslig (Andover, Kan.) and Aubrey Cheffey (Nixa, Mo.) from volleyball. Freshman Student-Athlete of the Year honors went to soccer performer Josh Dolling (Liverpool, England) and swimmer Libby Howell (Bixby, Okla.).
 
The individual sport most valuable players were also named, as voted on by head coaches. The men's team MVPs were awarded to: Jeremy Eierman (baseball, Jr., Warsaw, Mo.), Alize Johnson (basketball, Sr., Williamsport, Pa.), Adam Fisher (golf, Jr., Aberdeen, Scotland), Malik Earl (football, Sr., Oklahoma City, Okla.), Artur Osvath (swimming, Jr., Budapest, Hungary), and Liam Priestley (soccer, Sr., Essex, England). It was the second consecutive MVP honors for Johnson, Fisher and Osvath in their respective sports.
 
Women's team MVPs were awarded to: Aubrey Buckley (basketball, Sr., Springfield, Mo.), Taylor Fricano (beach volleyball, Sr., Palatine, Ill.), Jessica Allen (cross country, Sr., Liberty, Mo.), Verena Gimmy (golf, Sr., Neuss, Germany), Mary Disidore (soccer, Sr., Lenexa, Kan.), Darian Frost (softball, Jr., Lee's Summit, Mo.), Sydney Zupan (swimming and diving, Sr., Wildwood, Mo.), Alye Darter (tennis, So., Rogers, Ark.), Jamilah James (track and field, So., Scarborough, Ontario), and Lily Johnson (volleyball, Sr., Wildwood, Mo.). It is the third MVP honor for Allen and Johnson in their respective sports, and second honor for Gimmy and Darter.
 
The 2017-18 MVC State Farm Good Neighbor Award recipients were also recognized at the event. They were Lily Johnson (volleyball, Sr., Wildwood, Mo.), Christopher Heye (swimming, Sr., Little Rock, Ark.), and Claire Schwarz (track and cross country, Jr., Bettendorf, Iowa).
 
The Missouri State women's soccer team claimed the Academic Excellence Award for the fourth time, while the department's new sport, beach volleyball, earned the Community Service Award. Additional team awards went to volleyball (Athletic Excellence Award), men's soccer (Bears Supporting Bears Award), and women's track and field (Public Affairs Award). It marked the third straight Bears Supporting Bears honor for men's soccer and second straight honor for track in the Public Affairs category.
 
Audrey Holt (women's basketball, Columbia, Mo.) and Heye gave this year's senior speeches.
 
Approximately 300 student-athletes, coaches, staff and Athletics personnel attended the ninth annual event.
   
 

Previous Bear Cup Winners
    2009-10 Women's Soccer
    2010-11 Women's Soccer
    2011-12 Women's Soccer
    2012-13 Field Hockey
    2013-14 Field Hockey
    2014-15 Softball
    2015-16 Field Hockey
    2016-17 Volleyball
    2017-18 Women's Track & Field